Holidays Bring Hunger on Cape Cod

This Thanksgiving the Family Pantry of Cape Cod delivered more than 700 turkeys-and-fixings and struggles to meet a continued surge in demand.

Is hunger a problem on Cape Cod?

29 November 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Despite a wealthy image, Cape Cod struggles to feed its own. This Thanksgiving the Family Pantry of Cape Cod delivered more than 700 turkeys and fixings and has worked on streamlining its processes to help meet a continued surge in demand.

According to Christine Menard, executive director of The Family Pantry of Cape Cod in Harwich, the support that flowed in to address food insecurity during COVID has now now dried up. That support made a significant difference in the challenges of food insecurity, but is no longer available as, ironically, the need has grown.

How many does The Food Pantry Serve?

For Thanksgiving it delivered more than 700 turkeys-and-fixings, but hunger reaches far beyond one holiday. Menard says her organization now works with more than 800 families a month across Cape Cod - and that number just keeps increasing.

On the Cape, the intersection of extreme housing costs and seasonal employment coupled with the overall rise in food prices has created a 15-20 percent increase in demand this year over last year, she said.